Five-Membered Zirconacycloallenoids: Synthesis and Characterization of Members of a Unique Class of Internally Metal-Stabilized Bent Allenoid Compounds

1-Zirconacyclobuta-2,3-dienes: synthesis of organometallic analogs of elusive 1,2-cyclobutadiene, unprecedented intramolecular C-H activation, and reactivity studies

The structure, bonding, and reactivity of small, highly unsaturated ring systems is of fundamental interest for inorganic and organic chemistry. Four-membered metallacyclobuta-2,3-dienes, also referred to as metallacycloallenes, are among the most exotic examples for ring systems as these represent organometallic analogs of 1,2-cyclobutadiene, the smallest cyclic allene. Herein, the synthesis of the first examples of 1-zirconacyclobuta-2,3-dienes of the type [Cp'₂Zr(Me₃SiC₃SiMe₃)] (Cp'₂ = rac-(ebthi), (ebthi = 1,2-ethylene-1,1'-bis(η⁵-tetrahydroindenyl)) (2a); rac-Me₂Si(thi)₂, thi = (η⁵-tetrahydroindenyl), (2b)) is presented. Both complexes undergo selective thermal C-H activation at the 7-position of the ansa-cyclopentadienyl ligand to produce a new type of "tucked-in" zirconocene system, 3a and 3b, that possesses a η³-propargyl/allenyl ligand. Both types of complexes react with carbonyl compounds, producing enynes in the case of 2a and 2b, as well as η¹-allenyl complexes for 3a and 3b. Computational analysis of the structure and bonding of 2a and 3a reveals significant differences to a previously described related Ti complex. All complexes were fully characterised, including X-ray crystallography and experimental results were supported by DFT analysis.

Reactions of five-membered zirconacycloalkynes and zirconacycloallenes with Cp2Zr(H)Cl; formal hydrogenation by metal hydrides

Reactions of five-membered zirconacycloalkynes and zirconacyloallenes (1-zirconacyclopent-3-ynes and 1-zirconacyclopenta-2,3-dienes) with an excess of Cp₂Zr(H)Cl, known as the Schwartz reagent, were studied. Both reactions gave five-membered zirconacycloalkenes, 1-zirconacyclopent-3-enes without subsequent work-up such as protonolysis and hydrogenolysis. The product was identical to the zirconocene-diene complex that was prepared from Cp₂Zr(n-Bu)₂ (Negishi reagent) and the corresponding 1,4-disubstituted 1,3-dienes. These results indicate that formal hydrogenation by metal hydride took place. The use of diisobutylaluminum hydride or 9-borabicyclo[3.3.1]nonane also gave the same product, albeit in lower yields. The reactions starting from deuterated compounds suggested that double hydrozirconation followed by elimination of a dinuclear zirconium complex resulted in the hydrogenated products.

Equilibria and mesomerism/valence tautomerism of group 4 metallocene complexes

Priority of equilibrium: reactivity of unusual group 4 metallocene complexes is best explained by the equilibrium and only additionally by the mesomerism/valence tautomerism. The equilibrium predominates the empirically found experimental results.

Titanocene Silylpropyne Complexes: Promising Intermediates en route to a Four-Membered 1-Metallacyclobuta-2,3-diene?

Coordination of the alkyl-substituted alkynes Me₃ SiC₂ CH₂ R (1: R=SiMe₃ ; 2: R=N(SiMe₃ )₂ ) to titanocene centres [Cp'₂ Ti] (Cp'=Cp, Cp*) yields stable alkyne complexes of the type Cp'₂ Ti(η² -Me₃ SiC₂ CH₂ R) (3: Cp'=Cp, R=SiMe₃ ; 5: Cp'=Cp, R=N(SiMe₃ )₂ ; 6: Cp'=Cp*, R=SiMe₃ ) that are not prone to alkyne/allene isomerisation. When reacting alkyne 2 with Cp^*₂ TiCl₂ and Mg formation of the complex Cp*₂ Ti(III)(η³ -Me₃ SiC₂ CH₂ ) (7) which displays a propargylic unit coordinated to the Ti^III centre takes place. All complexes were fully characterised, the molecular structures for 5, 6, and 7 are discussed.

Multiple and Highly Selective Alkyne-Isonitrile C-C and C-N Couplings at Group 4 Metallocenes

Reactions of the group 4 metallocene alkyne complexes [Cp'2 M(η(2) -Me3 SiC2 SiMe3 )] [Cp'2 =rac-(ebthi)=rac-1,2-ethylene-1,1'-bis(η(5) -tetrahydroindenyl): M=Ti, Zr, Hf; Cp'2 =Cp*2 (Cp*=η(5) -pentamethylcyclopentadienyl): M=Zr] with 2,6-dimethylphenyl isocyanide (2-xylyl isonitrile, XyNC) were investigated. Depending on the metal, the Cp' ligand, and/or the stoichiometry, as well as the reaction temperature and time, different products were obtained. The products included simple end-on coordination compounds of XyNC in addition to those of the coupling of Me3 SiC2 SiMe3 with two, three, or four isonitriles to form enimine complexes, aza-metallacycloallenes, and fused heterocyclic systems, respectively. One example of the latter tricyclic compounds was subject to demetalation by using HCl. Molecular structures of the heterometallacycles were determined by X-ray crystallography. The interconversion of the products was investigated by (1) H NMR spectroscopy.

Five-membered cyclic metal carbyne: synthesis of osmapentalynes by the reactions of osmapentalene with allene, alkyne, and alkene

The synthesis of small cyclic metal carbynes is challenging due to the large angle strain associated with the highly distorted nonlinear triple bonds. Herein, we report a general route for the synthesis of five-membered cyclic metal carbyne complexes, osmapentalynes, by the reactions of an osmapentalene derivative with allene, alkyne, and alkene. Experimental observations and theoretical calculations document the aromaticity in the fused five-membered rings of osmapentalynes. The realization of transforming osmapentalene to osmapentalyne through this general route would not only allow further exploration of metallapentalyne chemistry but also show promising applications of this novel aromatic system with broad absorption band and high molar absorption coefficient.

Sulfur-containing stable five-membered “cycloallene” complexes: 1-thia-2-zircona- and 1-thia-2-titanacyclopenta-3,4-dienes

Stable five-membered sulfur-containing metallacyclic allenes, 1-thia-2-metallacyclopenta-3,4-diene, were synthesized from the reactions of low-valent zirconocene or titanocene with alkynylthioamides.

Unusual product formation in a 1,1-carboboration reaction

The reaction of the cross-conjugated enediyne Me₂CC(CCSiMe₃)₂with B(C₆F₅)₃gives the unusual borabicyclo[4.3.0]nonadiene product.

Unusual nitrile-nitrile and nitrile-alkyne coupling of Fc-C≡N and FC-C≡C-C≡N

The reactions of the Group 4 metallocene alkyne complexes, [Cp*2M(η2-Me3SiC2SiMe3)] (1 a: M=Ti, 1 b: M=Zr, Cp*=η5-pentamethylcyclopentadienyl), with the ferrocenyl nitriles, Fc-CN and Fc-C≡C-C≡N (Fc=Fe(η5-C5H5)(η5-C5H4)), is described. In case of Fc-C≡N an unusual nitrile–nitrile C-C homocoupling was observed and 1-metalla-2,5-diaza-cyclopenta-2,4-dienes (3 a, b) were obtained. As the first step of the reaction with 1 b, the nitrile was coordinated to give [Cp*2Zr(η2-Me3SiC2SiMe3)(N≡C-Fc)] (2 b). The reactions with the 3-ferrocenyl-2-propyne-nitrile FcC≡C-C≡N lead to an alkyne–nitrile C-C coupling of two substrates and the formation of 1-metalla-2-aza-cyclopenta-2,4-dienes (4 a, b). For M=Zr, the compound is stabilized by dimerization as evidenced by single-crystal X-ray structure analysis. The electrochemical behavior of 3 a, b and 4 a, b was investigated, showing decomposition after oxidation, leading to different redox-active products.

Borole formation by 1,1-carboboration

Bis(trimethylsilylethynyl)diphenylaminoborane was reacted with the strong Lewis acid B(C6F5)3 at ambient temperature to give the borole 9 admixed with a small amount of its thermal follow-up product 12. Compound 9 was subsequently stabilized by adduct formation with pyridine (10). Treatment of bis(trimethylsilylethynyl)phenylborane with B(C6F5)3 gave the borole 14, which reacted with 3-hexyne to give the [4 + 2] cycloaddition product 15.

Nitrile-nitrile C-C coupling at group 4 metallocenes to form 1-metalla-2,5-diaza-cyclopenta-2,4-dienes: synthesis and reactivity

The CC coupling of aryl nitriles at Group 4 metallocenes leads to unusual ring-strained 1-metalla-2,5-diaza-cyclopenta-2,4-dienes. The structural, energetic, and chemical properties of these complexes are described. The reactions of these compounds towards CH3 CN, H2 , CO2 , and HCl usually lead to the release of one nitrile and its replacement by different co-substrates.